Eddy Mcgrath From Tipperary Poem by Francis Duggan

Eddy McGrath from Tipperary from Greenrath near old Tipp Town
He's a helpful sort of fellow type who'd never see you down
Roamed the bushlands of Australia homeland of the kangaroo
Worked for a while in Melbourne City and spent some time in Sydney too.

He's returned to Tipperary where the fields are evergreen
And the dipper sings his sweet song on tree branch o'er murmuring stream
And bet he'll tell his friends in Greenrath of the things he's done and seen
Of the jobs that he has worked in and the places he has been.

He picked fruit up in Mildura and in Melbourne pulled cable for Daff
Worked for Tim Ryan and for Comdain and spent some time in Ridgeway's staff
Drank beer in the Homestead tavern, the Normandy and Clifton Hill hotel
And in that part of Melbourne Eddy is remembered well

He has returned home to Ireland gone to greet the Irish Spring
When the dunnock and the chaffinch have their sweetest notes to sing
When the wildflowers start a blooming and new leaves come on the trees
And the green vales start a ringing to the birds sweet melodies.

He has gone home for the hurling, hurling is his favourite game
And most people in Tipperary about hurling feel the same
And in the County of Tipperary hurling is played everywhere
And I have heard much talk of hurling every time that I've
been there.

He has heard old timers talking of Tipp stars of bygone day
Of famous Tipperary hurlers and the great games they did play
Martin Kennedy, Tony Reddan, big John Doyle and Tony Wall,
Jimmy Doyle and Liam Devaney he has heard tell of them all.

He's heard stories of Munster finals in the days of Christy Ring
In the days when a great hurler was admired as a true king
When the Corkmen faced Tipperary in the park at Thurles Town
And great hurlers played their hearts out for their Counties and renown.

Eddy is a Tipp supporter he's a Tipp man to the core
He's supported them through lean times applauding their every score
He say Tipp will win All Ireland in the year of 89
That they'll dethrone champions Galway and victory will be their's this time.

And like swallow wandering swallow who return to place of birth
Eddy has gone home to Ireland home to Tipp his native earth
But he'll be missed from Queens Parade that runs through Clifton Hill
And in that part of Melbourne they'll remember him they will.